GlassRoots Remembers Dena Lowenbach

The GlassRoots Community is deeply saddened by the passing of our revered Lifetime Trustee, Dena Lowenbach, at the age of 83. She will be remembered with profound gratitude and admiration.

In 2001, Dena established GlassRoots with our esteemed Founder, Patricia “Pat” Fenix Kettenring. She fondly recalled, “When Pat Kettenring called me to ask if I thought we could create a non-profit organization that would benefit underserved young people in the greater Newark area by exposing them to the art of glass making and basic business skills, I immediately said YES!” Lucky for us, Dena remained passionately involved with our organization as Board President, Secretary, a member of the Executive Board, Chair of the Development and Governance Committees and, most recently, Lifetime Trustee.

As someone who grew up going to Newark for ballet lessons, classical concerts and exhibitions at The Newark Museum of Art, Dena’s involvement in GlassRoots reflected her unwavering commitment to making the arts accessible to future generations of Newark’s youth. 



GlassRoots Executive Director, Carol Losos, explains “GlassRoots would not be here today without Dena’s expansive vision and enormous talents. She saw the potential in our mission from our first flames at the Boys and Girls Club and worked tirelessly to make that vision a reality. I worked closely with Dena, learned so much from her and will miss her dearly. I will continue to tap into her advocacy and enthusiasm for the arts as I lead GlassRoots into our next chapter.”

Thank you, Dena.

Countdown to GlassBall 2025

On June 5th, we’re bringing the magic of fire and glass from our studios in downtown Newark to the Montclair Art Museum!

This year's GlassBall guests will be greeted at the Museum entrance by the warm glow of a live glassblowing demo featuring our studio artists and Mobile Hot Shop (our portable furnace). During cocktail hour, attendees will meet and greet our Youth Entrepreneurial Spirit (YES) teens who will be showcasing and selling art they've made in the studios. We look forward to celebrating our distinguished honorees with you and are working behind-the-scenes to create the final glass orbs each GlassBall attendee will take home at the end of the festivities!

Have you bought your tickets yet? Don't miss out!

Studio Show and Tell

Our talented team of studio artists have been working diligently behind-the-scenes to create our signature glass orbs for this year's GlassBall gala. This year, we're excited to announce that they're also creating one-of-a-kind centerpieces for each table! These centerpieces will be displayed throughout the evening and sold in our silent auction. Stay tuned for updates as we get closer to the GlassBall.

Fired Up For Father's Day

Celebrate Father’s Day with a hands-on glassblowing experience! Want to get closer to the flames? Work with our table torches to sculpt a unique gift for the occasion or book a date night to bond one-on-one with your special partner. We're also offering family-friendly glassmaking classes open to kids 12 years and older. Create an original keepsake - while making memories - in a relaxed, creative environment!

We are pleased to announce that you can now order our handmade glass awards from the comfort of your own home or office! GlassRoots Awards and Commissions are now available on Shopify and we've made the ordering process simple and straightforward.

Is your organization planning a fall gala? Is your company closing a deal, welcoming a new partner or honoring a retiring team leader? Or, perhaps you're looking to recognize a team of volunteers? Consider showing your appreciation with a one-of-kind glass award hand-sculpted by our team of studio artists right here in downtown Newark!

GlassRoots Beautifies the Community

As the days grow longer and the skies grow brighter, we're bringing the studio to you!

Feast your eyes on these joyous mosaics we've made for Great Oaks Charter Legacy School in partnership with NJIT, the City of Newark and Newark Downtown District. We'll bring you updates from the official unveiling next month.

We're also pleased to partner with Audible and Newark Local Beer on June 4th from 5-8pm for our first ever Pint Glass Etching event! Transform an ordinary pint glass into a personalized work of art for only $5 (supplies included). Bring a friend and register here!



GlassRoots sparks change and enables growth in individuals and communities through the transformative power of glass art. Building skills, igniting creativity, inspiring confidence and impacting economic vitality.